Reviews

Reviews

the review

Client Interview

Client Interview

Jan 29 2015

"Apptive has been open to doing anything they can to support us." — Lead Digital Marketer, Specialty Optical Systems

Jan 29, 2015

Recommendations

The client is Specialty Optical Systems, a lead supplier of semiconductors located in Dallas, Texas. In addition to semiconductors, the client also sells specialty light bulbs and cleaning supplies. This client utilizes Apptive in order to offer their customers mobile access to their offerings. This client is extremely satisfied with Apptive and point to their affiliation with Bigcommerce.com and the Apptive support team as reasons for high recommendation.

the reviewer

Semiconductors

11-50 Employees

Dallas, TX

Lead Digital Marketer, SOS

Cory Griffin

Semiconductors

11-50 Employees

Dallas, TX

Verified

Lead Digital Marketer, SOS

Cory Griffin

Verified

The Review

Recommendations

The client is Specialty Optical Systems, a lead supplier of semiconductors located in Dallas, Texas. In addition to semiconductors, the client also sells specialty light bulbs and cleaning supplies. This client utilizes Apptive in order to offer their customers mobile access to their offerings. This client is extremely satisfied with Apptive and point to their affiliation with Bigcommerce.com and the Apptive support team as reasons for high recommendation.

the review

Can you please provide a brief description of your company and the role that you play?

We are a specialty lighting distributor in Dallas, Texas. We have a wide product range, from semiconductor products to general lighting, and we provide microscopes and clean-room supplies. Essentially, we specialize in specialty markets. I am responsible for overseeing the marketing, design, and functionality of our websites.

What is the name of your application and what is its main purpose?

We currently use the app on two of our e-commerce stores, and each app mirrors the website. The app has our logo in red while our websites are branded in different colors.

Please describe your role in the initial app development process and your current engagement with Apptive.

Apptive is our interface with bigcommerce.com, which provides our shopping cart. We’ve been partnering with Apptive since August of last year, and since they are down in Austin and we’re in Dallas, their location really works well for us.

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge your company was facing that indicated the need for a mobile application? What was the business goal that you were hoping to accomplish?

We have a lot of repeat customers, and we wanted to make it as simple as possible to keep in touch with them. Apptive has the software that allows us to put in our basic information, and then they helped us correctly set up the design functionality and the branding.

What app platforms did you want to build an app for? Did it matter to your business whether the app was a hybrid or native app?

Our app is on the iTunes App Store and the Android Store.

SOLUTION

Did your company have a formal selection process for deciding on which mobile app software you were going to use? Was your company considering other software or possibly a mobile app development service provider?

I looked at a third-party developer, but the cost was prohibitive. I wanted a company that had worked with Big Commerce before that knows their platform, so we could get this set up without a lot of back and forth. We hit a home run with Apptive. They’re extremely helpful and great to work with.

Did you initially begin with the software’s free version or trial period? What pricing plan does your company currently utilize?

We use the basic plan right now, which is $34.99 a month.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any success, metrics, or overall results of your application since publication?

Not at this time, no, because the project is really in its infancy. However, everything is looking good so far.

FEATURES

The next series of questions provide a chance to speak to specific aspects of the software. Can you speak to the available development tools like the templates and drag and drop? Were they intuitive and easy to use?

Overall, everything is where it is needed and is easy to use. The app mirrors our products exactly and displays them correctly. The links to social media are great, and the search feature is amazing. We never had any problems with formatting and rarely had a “What do I put here?” problem.

Are you satisfied with the social media, push notifications, and gamification integration options available?

The push notifications are great because I can send anything to our customers. It’s a great tool!

Have you found it necessary to consult any of Apptive’s available support resources? Was the support useful and accessible?

When you call Apptive, you’re not talking to a customer service representative but directly with the technician, the person who helped develop the app. He’s even assisted me with issues I had with Big Commerce, helping me get issues resolved with them. Apptive has been open to doing anything they can to support us.

Were there any software features or tools that you were really impressed by which potential buyers should be aware of?

They’re actually doing some beta work on our website right now that allows our customers to preview the app without having to leave our online store. Actually, that was an idea I threw at them, and they ran with it. That’s the kind of stuff I like to see.

OVERVIEW

We havea few quick questions and, for each question, we ask you to rate the software on a scale of one to five, with five being the best. What would you give the software for ease of use in the development process?

Five.

What would you give the software for quality of features available?

Five.

For support, as in responsiveness, communication and resources available?

Five.

For cost, as in value for your money and the time dedicated to development?

Five.

For overall usability and satisfaction with the software?

Five.

How likely are you to recommend the software to a colleague?

Five.

5.0

Overall Score

5.0Features

5.0Ease of Use

5.0Support

5.0Willing to Refer

the review

Client Interview

Client Interview

Jan 23 2015

"Apptive has grown in time, but I still feel like I’m one of their few customers, even though I know I’m not. I really enjoy working with them because they’re very responsive to our ideas. They clearly want to see the app be as profitable for us as possible."

— Owner, WOD Outlet

Jan 23, 2015

Recommendations

The client is WOD Outlet, an online fitness apparel and accessory store. This client was in need of a do-it-yourself mobile solution with an m-commerce focus. WOD Outlet found that Apptive was the best fit and mobile solution to meet their goal of more readily engaging their customers. This client is very satisfied with the tool Apptive provides and recommends Apptive for its responsive support team.

The client is WOD Outlet, an online fitness apparel and accessory store. This client was in need of a do-it-yourself mobile solution with an m-commerce focus. WOD Outlet found that Apptive was the best fit and mobile solution to meet their goal of more readily engaging their customers. This client is very satisfied with the tool Apptive provides and recommends Apptive for its responsive support team.

the review

Can you please provide a brief description of your company and the role that you play?

I’m the owner of an online retailer. We sell fitness apparel, gear, accessories, and nutritional supplements.

What is the name of your application, and what is its main purpose?

The name of both our company and our app is WOD Outlet. The purpose of our app is to stay in contact with our customers by offering the best possible shopping experience. The app also allows us to send out a variety of messages, push notifications, and things of that nature.

Please describe your role in the initial app development process and your current engagement with app development or content updates?

I started working with Apptive about a year ago. They pretty much developed the app as they thought best. At the same time, I’ve talked with them numerous times on where we would like to go in the future. They’ve always been extremely helpful, and they’re willing to do anything to help our vision come true.

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge your company was facing that indicated the need for a mobile application? What was the business goal you were hoping to accomplish?

We were primarily looking for another way to reach our customers besides emails and social media campaigns. We felt there was potential for the app to be of real value to our customers and to make the shopping experience a lot easier.

SOLUTION

Did your company have a formal selection process for deciding on the mobile app software you wanted to use? Was your company considering other software or possibly a mobile app development service provider?

I stumbled upon Apptive through the Bigcommerce website. I did look around a little on the Web, but when I spoke with Apptive we just clicked; I didn’t look anywhere else after talking with them. I had no reason to look elsewhere.

Did you initially begin with the software’s free version or trial period? What pricing plan does your company currently utilize?

We started with their least costly plan, but, just recently, we upgraded to the full plan, the one that offers all the analytics and reports.

When was the application published and to which application stores?

The app was published on Google and iTunes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any success, metrics, or overall results of your application since publication?

We’re getting increasingly strong results from the app. When we first got it, we didn’t really know what to do with it, but Apptive helped us figure out the best way to use it. Since then, we’ve been getting a lot more active with it. During the last three or four months the number of people accepting push notifications has grown a couple percentage points, and we’re continuing to see steady growth in app downloads.

FEATURES

The next series of questions is a chance to speak to specific features of the software. Can you speak to the available development tools like the templates and drag and drop? Were they intuitive and easy to use?

Apptive is remaking our home page, and that’s going to make things better for our customers and allow us to have updates right away. Sometimes in the past, it took a day for our website to update, but that’s going to change and will soon be in real time.

Please speak to the content management system. How do you upload new data or make changes? Have you found the process simple and accessible?

That’s what we’re really getting into now. Apptive is redoing the platform, and that’s going to make things a lot better for viewers, allowing us to have updates right away.

Does your app utilize any monetization features? Are you satisfied with the options available?

The more options that can be handled within the app, the better overall it’s going to be for companies like ours and, most importantly, for our customers. It’s going to make the customer feel like they’re not being bounced around as much and probably reduce the opportunity for errors.

Have you found it necessary to consult any of the company’s available support resources? Was the support useful and accessible?

Every time I reach out to them, they respond extremely quickly. Their response time is awesome. Apptive has grown in time, but I still feel like I’m one of their few customers, even though I know I’m not. I really enjoy working with them because they’re very responsive to our ideas. They clearly want to see the app be as profitable for us as possible.

Were there any software features or tools that you were really impressed of which potential buyers should be aware?

I think the overhaul Apptive is doing will make the home page visually attractive. The analytics will be even more helpful. With the data we expect to get, we should be able to home in on the people who are looking at specific products.

Looking back, were there any areas of the software that you felt were not intuitive or that you feel could be improved upon?

I did notice here or there that we would make an update to the site and it took a day for the app to catch up. That’s all getting ready to change, and it’ll be in real time, so I think that’s going to be a big benefit.

OVERVIEW

We havea few quick questions, and for each question we ask you to rate the software on a scale of one to five, with five being the best. What would you give the software for ease of use in the development process?

Five.

What would you give the software for quality of features available?

Five.

For support, as in responsiveness, communication and resources available?

Five.

For cost, as in value for your money and the time dedicated to development?

the review

Client Interview

Client Interview

Jan 14 2015

"The support from Apptive was incredible. Every email was answered quickly." — Media Communications Specialist, Church Organization

Jan 14, 2015

Recommendations

The client is a large church organization that was in need of a mobile solution that allowed them to disseminate information, connect with the congregation, and update their users with any important schedule updates. This client is extremely satisfied with the product Apptive provides. The client was able to build a meaningful application for their purposes within a few hours. This client points to the application's ease of use and Apptive's response team for reasons of recommendation.

the reviewer

Non-Profit

11-50 Employees

Media Specialist, Church Congregation

Non-Profit

11-50 Employees

Verified

Media Specialist, Church Congregation

Verified

The Review

Recommendations

The client is a large church organization that was in need of a mobile solution that allowed them to disseminate information, connect with the congregation, and update their users with any important schedule updates. This client is extremely satisfied with the product Apptive provides. The client was able to build a meaningful application for their purposes within a few hours. This client points to the application's ease of use and Apptive's response team for reasons of recommendation.

the review

Can you please provide a brief description of your company and the role that you play there?

We’re a large church, and I’m the media communications specialist. I handle anything that’s not print media.

What is the name of your application and what is its main purpose?

The app’s purpose is to communicate with the members of the church, probably mostly calendar and contact information.

Please describe your role in the initial app development process and your current engagement with app development or content updates?

I had a really simple training at first. I am familiar with content management systems, so it wasn’t that hard, , to do the updates, and I maintain it. Initially, the designing of the logo and the start screen were things that I needed a help with, Apptive was very responsive and helped me with any questions I had.

Apptive also handles the process of submitting the app to the app stores. Back in 2013, when we originally rolled out our app, that process was a bit difficult, but now they update the app every year for us to meet changing store requirements.

How would you describe your app development skill level, such as beginner, some coding experience, expert, and so on?

I have some coding experience, but I didn’t use it in this area. I was going to start coding my own app, and then I found out about this wonderful company. This was new to me in 2013, and it was very easy. I update our parish website, which is a content management system, and many of us here are able to utilize that pretty easily. To me, this was just an extension of that. I didn’t do any coding, I just use it as a content management system. I can set up links, load pictures, load messages, and update. It’s very simple to use.

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge your company was facing that incited the need for a mobile application and what was the business goal that you were hoping to accomplish?

In 2013, our content management system, which we didn’t want to leave, did not have a mobile format. My manager wanted something quicker and something that was easy to access, especially his sermon recordings.

We now have a mobile platform for the content management system we use, so it’s even faster to get from the app into our website. Most all of our content is on our website, and I think that’s standard, and we needed people to be able to get there more quickly, especially if they were on the road or just had their cellphones or tablets with them.

What app platforms did you want to build an app for? Did it matter to your business whether the app was a hybrid or native app?

Available on both Android and Apple platforms.

SOLUTION

Did your company have a formal selection process for deciding on a mobile app development software? Was your company considering other software or possibly a mobile app development service provider?

We heard of Apptive through a connection of the church. I was so impressed with its features, and I didn’t have time to make my own app, so this was a wonderful find for me. The team at Apptive is really just brilliant, it is such a great idea.

About how long in terms of hours would you approximate it initially took to have an app ready for publication?

It was two or three hours of my time, that’s it. I had little experience with the format for the icon that needed to be there, and that took the longest.

When was the application published and to which application stores?

[In] April of 2013 to Android and Apple.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any success, metrics, or overall results of your application since publication?

We have about 4,000 family units in our church, and about 2,000 that are active. On church apps, the normative number of active people downloading it is about 25 percent. I just checked today and we have 20 percent of our active families that have downloaded the app, that’s fantastic, given that I’m not actively pushing it.

FEATURES

The next series of questions is a chance to speak to specific feature areas of the software. Can you speak to the available development tools, such as templates and drag and drop? Were they intuitive and easy to use?

It was drag and drop. I can update it at any time very easily, and the initial setup was very simple.

Can you speak to the content management system, such as how do you upload new data or make changes? Have you found the process simple and accessible?

Everything on the dashboard has a link for me to go to, and it’s very easy to update. Actually, I just updated our staff information today.

Are you satisfied with the social media, push notifications, and gamification integration options available?

The push messages are very simple. You can schedule them very easily. Hooking our calendar to our Twitter feed or Facebook page is very simple. The links to our website are superb. Having our photographs show up on the app is great. It’s just easy. That's all I can say.

Were there any specific features related to your industry vertical that were a necessity to your finished mobile application?

We have a normative calendar for our events but, sometimes, things change. One time, we had a flood here, and we had to cancel, so the push message was really helpful. Whenever we have a change of schedule, I can send messages out, and I can schedule them, so that’s been very helpful. Connecting to our Facebook page has been helpful and having the contacts where people can just send an email quickly to someone here, or find the phone numbers or the map. All those things have been useful to us.

Have you found it necessary to consult any of the company’s available support resources? Was the support useful and accessible?

The support from Apptive was incredible. Every email was answered quickly.

Looking back, were there any areas of the software that you felt were not intuitive or that you feel could be improved upon?

For our purposes the available icons are limited, so we have stretched the definition of them to fit our needs best. They’re designed more for a monetary-based use, so a greater ability to adapt them would be helpful.

OVERVIEW

We havea few quick questions, and for each question we ask you to rate the software on a scale of one to five, with five being the best. What you give the software for ease of use in the development process?

Five.

What would you give the software for quality of features available?

Four and a half.

For support, as in responsiveness, communication, and resources available?

Five.

For cost, as in value for your money and the time dedicated to development?

Five.

For overall usability and satisfaction with the software?

Five.

How likely are you to recommend the software to a colleague?

Five. I do it all the time.

5.0

Overall Score

4.5Features

5.0Ease of Use

5.0Support

5.0Willing to Refer

the review

Client Interview

Client Interview

Jan 12 2015

"They made it easy for the smaller guy to have a very functional app that will help their store." —Co-owner, Jack Be Natural

Jan 12, 2015

Recommendations

The client is Jack Be Natural, a small company focused on infant and toddler consumer products. This client was in need of an affordable and low maintenance solution that would allow them to offer their customers the ability to shop through their mobile. The client is extremely satisfied with the m-Commerce app that Apptive has helped them to create. This client points to the support offered by the Apptive team as a large reason for recommendation.

The client is Jack Be Natural, a small company focused on infant and toddler consumer products. This client was in need of an affordable and low maintenance solution that would allow them to offer their customers the ability to shop through their mobile. The client is extremely satisfied with the m-Commerce app that Apptive has helped them to create. This client points to the support offered by the Apptive team as a large reason for recommendation.

the review

Can you please provide a brief description of your company and the role that you play there?

Our company, Jack Be Natural, is an online specialty boutique store that primarily specializes in natural baby products, whether it be for diapering, skin care, and sustainably made baby furniture. I’m the co-owner. My wife and I own the business. We’ve been doing this for more than four years now.

What is the name of your application and what is its main purpose?

The app is called Jack Be Natural, just like our company. We wanted something different for our customers who like to shop with a mobile device or tablet. We didn’t just want not to have the Web browser, we wanted an app interface. Our app allows customers to navigate through our products quicker, it is cleaner, and also has really cool features that allow us to offer special promotions.

The app is a one-stop shop where somebody can look through everything, they can see what’s going on with the company, promotions, and social media. It also has a good "About Us" section so people don’t have to dig too deep to find out who we are, and who they’re buying from. It’s a neat way to compartmentalize everything, normally someone would have to surf through many pages on a website to find that information.

Please describe your role in the initial app development process and your current engagement with app development or content updates?

I have zero experience with building apps. I don’t know how to code, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to start an app. I’ve done nothing in terms of developing the app other than just putting in requests of what I would want. Apptive updates and handles all of the coding. I’m more focused on the design and look of the app.

How would you describe your app development skill level, such as beginner, some coding experience, expert, and so on?

Beginner.

OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge Jack Be Natural was facing that incited the need for a mobile application, and what was the business goal that you were hoping to accomplish?

Today, practically everyone has a smartphone or tablet. If you have an app with your emblem right there on somebody’s phone, it’s easier for them to remember you. I thought an app would be good to have and instead of someone searching online, they could just push a button and have access to our store. That was the impetus behind it. I would have never thought of building an app because I thought there would be a lot of time, money, and skill involved that I didn’t possess. Then, I found Apptive, and they made it all really easy and affordable to do.

What app platforms did you want to build an app for? Did it matter to your business whether the app was a hybrid or native app?

I was definitely interested in having both iOS and Android, and Apptive has capability for both. In the last year, Apptive also added a full version for tablets. In terms of native capabilities, the very first iteration of the app had different tabs, but when you went to shop it took you to the mobile version of our site.

At first, it wasn’t a true app, and that’s something that they have changed, and we now have a native version. It’s a whole different experience and looks a lot better.

SOLUTION

Did Jack Be Natural have a formal selection process for deciding on a mobile app development software? Was Jack Be Natural considering other software or possibly a mobile app development service provider?

We found Apptive through our third-party Webhost called Big Commerce. I never considered other mobile app service providers. I kind of ran into this by accident, and as soon as I saw that it was possible and relatively inexpensive it just made sense, but I never researched it. I’ve been happy with the way Apptive does things. I’ve had no reason to look for someone else.

Did you initially begin with the software’s free version or trial period? What pricing plan does Jack Be Natural currently utilize?

We’ve used the premium subscription since partnering with Apptive.

About how long in terms of hours would you approximate it initially took to have an app ready for publication?

When I initially set up the modules on their dashboard, it may have taken me an hour. Then, they helped me customize it a little bit more and gave me suggestions. It’s not been an exhaustive involvement by any means.

When was the application published and to which application stores?

We launched in July of 2012 to both iOS and Android stores.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any success, metrics, or overall results of your application since publication?

I’m 100 percent satisfied with Apptive’s service. The way I would characterize it is that they made it easy for the non-technically savvy person and also the small company. I don’t have large marketing budgets. They made it easy for the smaller guy to have a very functional app that will help their store.

FEATURES

The next series of questions is a chance to speak to specific feature areas of the software. Can you speak to the available development tools, such as templates or drag and drop?

They’re very easy to use, and very intuitive. For someone who isn’t very skilled on the technical side of things, it’s easy for me. Someone who is a lot more skilled than me might find it simple. Their modules are very functional and very easy. The functionality has continued to improve as well.

Can you speak to the content management system, such as how do you upload new data or make changes? Have you found the process simple and accessible?

I really don’t have to do anything advanced. The app is linked to my store directly, so anytime I make a pricing change the app refreshes automatically and shows up instantly. If I go into the app module itself, and I change a promotion, that’s instant. Any change I make on the website carries over to the app automatically.

Are you satisfied with the social media, push notifications, and gamification integration options available?

If I do a push notification, that’s instant. So, I’m very happy with that. Originally, they had some issues with their push notifications not showing up in a timely way, but Jason [Jaynes], the co-founder of Apptive, and I have worked through that. He figured out what was causing the issue. We also had a problem where some products weren’t showing up on the app, and he figured that out and fixed it. So, no complaints at all. Across the board, it’s been a very good experience.

Does your app utilize any monetization features? Are you satisfied with the options available?

I don’t have anything to compare it to, but from what I’ve seen of it, and from customer feedback, works great, I couldn’t be any happier.

Have you found it necessary to consult any of Apptive’s available support resources? Was the support useful and accessible?

All along, Jason has been very helpful, very understanding, and adapts to the knowledge level of his customer. He doesn’t go into things that he knows I probably won’t understand. He walks me through it, explains it, and makes sure I understand it.

I think they provide a really great service. They’re very hands-on, and they’re very good communicators. We’ve used other apps before, and when you try to call somebody to ask a question sometimes there’s an arrogance and they kind of dismiss you. I’ve never gotten anything like that from Apptive. They’re just really good to work with. They’re very open to feedback.

Looking back, were there any areas of the software that you felt were not intuitive or that you feel could be improved upon?

The analytics are limited right now. The only thing I can tell is the total downloads. When a purchase comes through, it tells me if it came from a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. What it doesn’t tell me is, if somebody used the Web browser or the app to make a purchase. I would be interested to know what percentage comes from the app. I’ve talked to Jason about that, and he said that’s something they’d work on for future updates. When the push notifications go out, I’d like to be able to see if it generated enough buzz that someone was tempted to go in and make a purchase via the app.

OVERVIEW

We havea few quick questions and, for each question, we ask you to rate the software on a scale of one to five, with five being the best. What you give the software for ease of use in the development process?

Five.

What would you give the software for quality of features available?

Four. As they’re learning more about m-commerce, and they’re improving their technology, I think they’re going to come up with new features. I know that they’re just now scratching the surface, so that’s the content behind my four, not because the app’s not good.

For support, as in responsiveness, communication, and resources available?

Five.

For cost, as in value for your money and the time dedicated to development?